Steam iron water reservoir water discharge control means



March 4, 1952 Inventor: Alfred G. Swanson,

Hi tto ney.

Patented Mar. 4, 1952 STEAM IRON WATER RESERVOIR WATER DISCHARGE CONTROL MEANS Alfred G. Swenson, 0ntario,'Calif., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application January 7, 1949, Serial No. 69,774

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a pressing device, and it has for its object the provision in a steam iron of improved valve means for controlling the discharge of water from the water reservoir to the steam generating chamber of the iron.

More particularly, this invention relates to improved means for controlling the flow of water from the reservoir to thesteam generating cham ber of the steam iron described and claimed in the copending application of Frank E. Finlayson.

Serial No. 69,756, filed concurrently herewith and assigned to the as ignee of the present application, although it is not limitedto such iron.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 illustrates a side elevation view of an iron embodying the features of my invention, the forward portion of the iron being shown in vertical section, taken along the longitudinal axis of the iron; and Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the forward portion of the iron showing the Water flow control valve in its open position in'contrast to Fig. 1 where it is shown in the closed position.

Referring to the drawing, this invention has been shown as applied to an electrically heated fiatiron comprising a sole plate It, .a top cover i i for the iron,. and a handle l2 attached to this cover. A water reservoir I3 is provided within the space defined by the top cover and the sole 3 plate. The handle I 2, which preferably is molded from a suitable phenolic condensation product or other heat insulating material, has a hand grip portion I 4, a front handle support portion 15,

and a rear handle support [6. The rear handle support is provided with a protuberance 16a, and this protuberance in conjunction with the body of the iron forms a heel rest upon which the iron may be up-ended when not in use.

The pressing surface of the iron comprises the sole plate It which preferably is cast of a heatconducting material such as aluminum. Imbedded in the sole plate In is a suitable electrical heating element I! which preferably will be of the sheathed type. While the design of this heatextending towards the rear of the iron and its nexus at the forward or pointed end of the iron. Any suitable method may be used for connection of the electrical resistance element l8 to a source of power. A rotatable knob 21, located in a convenient position, is provided for adjustment of a thermostatic switch, not shown, to control the temperature of the iron.

A steam generating chamber 22 is provided adjacent the sole plate so that water from the reservoir l 3 dripping into chamber 22 will be vaporized and discharged through the pressing surface of the iron. A cavity 23 is provided in the upper surface of the sole plate It into which water'from the reservoir may flow. A trough 24 is employed to conduct the water to this cavity 23 so that the water will be spread out over a Wider area of the cavity to insure rapid vaporization. Cavity 23 is located between the legs of the heating element I7, and during operation this area of the sole plate will be highly heated and, therefore, the water fed into the steam generating cavitywill be instantly flashed intosteam. The steam so generated is confined within chamber '22 by a cover plate 25 and hood 2'! cooperating with the sole plate I!) to define the walls of chamber 22. Cover plate 25 and hood 27 are fastened to the sole plate by screws 26 or other suitable fastening means. A circuitous passage is preferably provided between the cover plate 25 and the sole plate H) for conducting the steam from cavity 23 to the steam discharge ports 28. The aforesaid described sole plate structure is described and claimed in the copending application of Frank E. Finlayson, Serial No. 790,525, filed December 9, 1947, now Patent No. 2,582,773, dated January 15, 1952 which is a division of Frank E. Finlaysons copending application, Serial No. 696.298, filed September 11, 1946, now Patent No. 2,557,732 dated June 19, 1951 and both of which are assigned to the assignee of the instant application. Reference also is made to the copending application of Frank E. Finlayson Serial No. 696,297, filed September 11, 1946, now Patent No. 2,499,184, patented February 28, 1950, .also assigned to the assignee of the instant ap lication, and which describes and claims a chute extending rearwardly as does trough 24 for conveying Water from a reservoir discharge port to a steam generator.

The water reservoir 13 comprises a tank fabricated from a, suitable non-rusting material such as brass. This tank l3 may be shaped to it closely adjacent the underside of the top cover II of the iron in order to have sufiicient volume of water within the reservoir for continuous use ing chamber.

be such as will allow the water to drip into the during the ironing period. The reservoir l3 preferably should be spaced from the sole plate so that water within the reservoir will not be rapidly vaporized. To provide communication between reservoir l3 and chamber 22 and to support the reservoir with respect to the soleplate I0, the valve assembly 29 is securely fastened to reservoir l3 and hood 2'! of the steam generating chamber.

Valve assembly 29 includes a bushing 30 internally threaded to receive the orificed member 3|. The bushing 38 is fixed to hood 2! by any suitable method and defines an aperture through the top of the hood. Reservoir I3 is provided with an aperture in alignment with the aperture defined by bushing 30, so that when orificed member 3| is inserted through the aperture in the reservoir it. may be threaded into bushing 30 to clamp the reservoir and hood together. A suitable gasket 33 may be interposed between the bushing 35 and the underside of the reservoir to provide a sealed connection between the reservoir 13 and the hood 2?, The orifice 34 passing through the member 3! permits how of water from the reservoir into the steam generat- The diameter of this orifice should steam chamber during a normal pressing operation. Other means will, of course, be apparent to one skilled in the art for supporting the reservoir and furnishing communication between the reservoir and the steam generating chamber.

A fill tube or riser 35 furnishes communication to the reservoir for addition of liquid. An opening is provided into the water tank it at its upper forward portion for reception of this fill tube, and a similar aligned opening is also provided in the top cover ll of the iron. Fill tube 35 extends through these aligned openings and is connected to both the top cover and the reservoir by any suitable method well known to the art. As shown in the figure, an annular groove 36 is provided on the lower end of fill tube 35,

' and this groove receives the edge portions of the aperture in the reservoir.

An insulating gasket 31 and a washer 38 around the outside of the tube 35 may be employed between the top cover H of the iron and the front handle support i5. Such a construction will aid in preventing the handle from becoming uncomfortably hot during operation.

The front handle support has an internal bore of an appropriate shape to receive snugly the fill tube 35. The strength of this portion of the handle may be increased by employing a liner 39, and this liner, as shown in the drawing, is a cylindrical tube closed at its upper end. The liner 39, fill tube 35, and the handle l2 are connected together by means of the screw 40,

and this assembly also serves as a means for r attaching the front handle support :5 to the poured from a small pitcher, or the like, into the fill tube for adding water to the reservoir. This construction has the distinct advantage over the conventional arrangement where water is, added to the reservoir while the iron is in its normal ironing position, in that with this comtruction any overflow while filling the water tank will merely fiow over the handle portion of the iron and will not strike the hot surfaces of the iron. This arrangement also facilitates the filling of the reservoir in that the iron is on its heel rest during this time and there is no danger of burning or scorching the material being ironed or the surface of the ironing board. It is contemplated in this construction to employ no means whatsoever for closing the filling aperture 4i, and therefore no special means need be provided for venting the water reservoir. Aperture 4! also provides a means by which the water from the reservoir may be poured out upon completion of ironing.

The foregoing structure is substantially the same as the Figs. 1 and 2 form of the invention described and claimed in the copending application of Frank E. Finlayson, Serial No. 69,756, filed concurrently herewith.

In accordance with my invention, control means are provided for opening the reservoir so that water may fiow to the generative chamber 23, or for shutting this flow of water off. And this means includes means whereby these functions may be accomplished easily while ironing .by a simple movement of the thumb or thumb and forefinger. Such steam control member also is of the utmost simplicity to reduce the cost of manufacture, to increase the ease of operation, and to provide a device of high reliability without the need for painstaking maintenance or expensive repairs.

In accordance-with my invention, the control means comprises a control member 43 formed from a resilient piece of wire of approximately the same diameter as the diameter of the orifice 34. Member 43 includes a lower straight portion 44 which projects through the orifice for blocking off the fiow of water to the steam generating chamber. An intermediate bowed portion is formed on member 43 to frictionally engage the inside wall of fill tube 35, and a finger control loop 45 is formed on the upper end of fiow control member 43. By such a construction, this valve operating member 43 is slidable vertically by the operator to permit the flow of water from the reservoir to the steam generating cavity, and the valve is held in the open, closed, or an intermediate position by the frictional engagement of the intermediate bowed portion with the inside wall of the fill tube. Member 43 is of sufficient length to allow the lower plug portion to extend through the orifice so that when the flow control member is forced downwardly to close off orifice 34, any scale or dirt within the orifice will be forced out.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited solely thereto since modifications may be made, and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l 1. A steam iron comprising a water tank, a

' ironing position, and a water feed control member extending longitudinally through and frictionally engaging the inside wall of said fill tube, said control member being slidably movable longitudinally of said fill tube and having a plug portion adapted to seal off said communicating means, and a finger operated control member positioned outside the other end of said fill tube for manually adjusting the rate of water flow.

2. A steam iron comprising a water reservoir, a steam generating chamber, a valve furnishing communication between said reservoir and chamber, means for heating said chamber to generate steam from the water fed into it from said reservoir, a fill tube connected to and extending away from said reservoir with one of its ends afiixed thereto, a handle for said iron provided with a hollow bore adapted to receive said fill tube, a control member for said valve extending longitudinally through and frictionally engaging the inside wall of said fill tube, said control member being slidably movable longitudinally of said fill tube, and a finger operating portion on said control member projecting outside the opposite end of said fill tube and handle.

3. A steam iron comprising a water reservoir, a steam generating chamber, an orificed member providing a water flow passage from said reservoir to said chamber, means for heating said chamber to generate steam from the water fed into it from said reservoir, a fill tube having one of its ends afilxed to said reservoir and extending upwardly when said iron is in normal ironing position, and a water feed control member extending longitudinally through said tube, said feed control member including a plug portion adapted to seal ofi said orifice, a finger operated control member positioned outside the other end of said fill tube, and an intermediate bowed portion providing frictional engagement of said feed control member with the inside surface of said tube, said feed control member being slidable longitudinally within said tube to regulate water flow through said orificed member.

ALFRED G. SWENSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,045,179 Price Nov. 26, 1912 2,313,382 Kistner Mar. 9, 1943 2,499,185 Finlayson Feb. 28, 1950 

